Siemens Energy will
establish its U.S. wind turbine R&D competence center in Boulder, Colorado.
The facility is expected to employ an estimated 50 people and will focus on
atmospheric science research, aerodynamic blade design, structural
dynamics, wind turbine dispatch prediction and reliability.
Siemens and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) also intend to
enter into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) for the
installation of a Siemens 2.3-MW pilot wind turbine with a 101-meter-rotor
at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) location south of Boulder.
The company will test basic wind turbine characteristics and verify new
performance-enhancing features and turbine reliability under severe weather
conditions over a minimum period of three years.
"We are very pleased to establish our first wind turbine R&D competence
center in Boulder. The proximity of important institutions such as NREL and
the NWTC, as well as the support received from the State of Colorado and
the City of Boulder, make Boulder the perfect location for a R&D center in
the U.S.," said Randy Zwirn, head of Siemens' Energy Sector in the U.S.
"Boulder was pleased to collaborate with the state of Colorado in an
effort to bring Siemens to the city of Boulder. This new Siemens wind
turbine R&D facility will be a significant new addition to our business
community and will support Boulder's strong commitment to environmental
sustainability and renewable energy resources," said Boulder City Manager
Frank Bruno.
Presently, Siemens has established core competence centers for wind
turbine R&D in Copenhagen (Denmark), Aachen (Germany), Delft (Netherlands)
and Keele (United Kingdom). In the U.S., Boulder was chosen to leverage
potential collaboration efforts with other institutions that are actively
engaged in atmospheric research, and wind turbine and associated systems
R&D, including NREL, the NWTC, the National Center for Atmospheric Research
and the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaborative, a state-funded program
including the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Colorado State
University and the Colorado School of Mines. This new facility will also
enable technology transfer with other Siemens wind turbine R&D centers in
Europe.
"By choosing Colorado as the location for their first wind research and
development site in the United States, Siemens has shown that they
recognize our State is leading the country in renewable energy technology,"
stated Colorado Congressman Mark Udall. "The creation of these green jobs
is good for our economy and our communities and will help set us on a path
of greater energy independence. Colorado is fortunate to have Siemens make
this investment in our State."
Governor Ritter enthusiastically welcomes Siemens, a global industry
leader, to Colorado. "This is another great testament to Colorado's growing
New Energy economy. We continue to establish ourselves as a worldwide
leader in renewable, sustainable and modern energy," Governor Ritter said.
"The arrival of the Siemens U.S. wind turbine research center draws
particular attention to the creative and groundbreaking work being done in
energy R&D in Colorado right now."
"At Siemens, innovation is one of our core values. Our R&D focus is on
developing solutions that are reliable, economical, and with low impact on
the environment and climate," stated Zwirn. "This new R&D center will help
us further improve the efficiency of turbines, and thus the economics of
wind energy projects."
The new Siemens R&D Center is expected to create 12-15 green-collar
positions in the first year, followed by 5-10 additional careers every year
thereafter, resulting in approximately 50 new positions by 2013. Most
employees will be new hires with a PhD or master's degree in the desired
disciplines.
The Siemens Energy Sector is the world's leading supplier of a complete
spectrum of products, services and solutions for the generation,
transmission and distribution of power and for the extraction, conversion
and transport of oil and gas. In fiscal 2007 (ended September 30, based on
IFRS), the Energy Sector had revenues of approximately EUR20 billion and
received new orders totaling around EUR28 billion and posted a profit of
EUR1.8 billion. The Energy Sector had a work force of 73,500 at the
beginning of fiscal 2008.
SOURCE Siemens
Digg
Reddit
Slashdot